Hardcover

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Exactly half a century old, this timeless illustrated classic artfully captures the 'Madmen' era New York City through a distinctive and charming mid-century aesthetic. The unique essence of New York City was never more poetically celebrated than in Vladimir Fuka's brilliant, colourful illustrations and collages and Zden?k Mahler's playful accompanying narrative. The authors take us on a charming journey of discovery through the magnificent metropolis' architectural landmarks, cultural hot spots and ethnically diverse neighborhoods - from the high to the low: Wall St to Coney Island, The Guggenheim Museum to Yankees Stadium. Interesting historical fun facts about the city and its inhabitants paint a true picture of everyday New York reality.

New York was created in 1964 and first printed in the former Czechoslovakia in 1968 but the entire print run was pulped by the secret police after Fuka escaped to America. The book was finally brought to life when Mahler's grandson discovered a surviving copy under a pile of manuscripts in his attic. Fifty years later, it remains as fresh as ever and includes updated facts for the 21st century. This beautiful, retro treasure will delight New Yorkers and tourists of all ages.

About the Author

Vladimir Fuka (1926-1977) is a Czech illustrator, graphic artist, painter, and sculptor. In the 1950s and '60s, Fuka created a number of innovative books for both children and adults and has won numerous international awards. Zdenek Mahler is a writer of books for children and adults, and screenplays for theater, film, and television. He was an advisor in the preparations of Milos Forman's film Amadeus and Goya's Ghosts, and has been a writer and moderator of popular educational programs.

""New York: A Mod Portrait" is more than a picture book--its is one of the most imaginative and beautiful travel guides ever written, and a charming companion for anyone journeying to the Big Apple. While the illustrations and punchy graphics may serve as a time capsule taking us back to midcentury NYC, certain elements have been updated to keep the book relevant--the book now lists the Freedom Tower..."New York A Mod Portrait" may be a very playful portrayal of the city, but the real achievement is how the book really touches the heart and soul of the city...this book will ignite the same exhilaration and enchantment felt upon arriving here for the very first time." -"ArtDaily""In 1964, Vladimir Fuka captured the brilliance of New York in a book of drawings. All of the copies were thought to be destroyed--until now!" -"Town & Country""In 1968, an innocent guidebook fell victim to the Cold War. Its whimsical drawings and poetic lines devoted to New York City were destroyed by the Czechoslovakian secret police--all but one copy, that is. Nearly fifty years later, the grandson of its author found the original manuscript buried in an old wardrobe, and this week, it entered American circulation for the first time ever. What Mahler and his friend, an artist named Vladimir Fuka, had drafted some 44 years ago was a whimsical, poetic guide to NYC called, "New York: A Mod Portrait of the City."" "Daily Beast" "The Prague Spring of 1968 left a curious legacy. "New York: A Mod Portrait of the City" was a book published in Czechoslovakia in that year and it is the most adorable book about NYC you've never seen... Happy ending: next week, it's back in print, slightly updated." -"Manhattan Users Guide""""And so a pretty, 1960s era guidebook to New York is now the perfect coffee table book." -"Gothamist ""Mahler and Fuka's books are particularly well-suited to travel types as they liked to illustrate the buildings, parks, public institutions, m